CN101171810A - Terminal, emergency center, network, network element, system and method for establishing an emergency session using a terminal identity - Google Patents

Abstract

A terminal for use with a wireless local area network, said terminal being arranged to use at least part of at least one of the following pieces information as an identity: a MAC Medium Access Control address of an AP access point to which said terminal is connected to, in use; a MAC address of said terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line that said terminal is connected to in use either directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and a switch or router port number of a fixed line that said terminal is connected to, in use, either directly or via a WLAN access point AP.

Description

Terminal, emergency center, network, network element, system and method for establishing an emergency session using a terminal identity

technical field

The invention relates to a terminal.

Background technique

A communication system may be seen as a device that enables a communication session between two or more entities, eg user equipment and/or other nodes associated with the communication system. Communications may include, for example, communications of voice, data, multimedia, and the like. A session may eg be a telephone call or a multi-party conference session between users, or a communication session between a user equipment and an application server (AS), eg a service provider server. The establishment of these sessions usually provides various services to the user.

A communication system typically operates according to a given standard or specification that states what the various entities associated with the communication system are allowed to do, and how it should be implemented. For example, a standard or specification may define whether a user, or rather a user equipment, is provided with circuit-switched services and/or packet-switched services. It is also possible to define the communication protocol and/or parameters to be used for the connection. In other words, a specific set of "rules" on which communications can be based needs to be defined in order to communicate with the system.

Communication systems providing wireless communication for user equipment are known. One example of such a wireless system is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), another example is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Fixed broadband access is another type of access.

The term "service" in the above and below can be broadly understood as including any service or goods desired, required or provided by the user. The term can also be understood to include offering services that are complimentary. In particular, but not exclusively, the term "service" may be understood to include Internet protocol multimedia IM services, conferencing, telephony, games.

An example of a service that might be provided to a user, eg a subscriber of a communication system, is a so-called multimedia service. Some of the communication systems implemented to provide multimedia services are known, such as Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia networks. IP Multimedia (IM) functionality may be provided using an IP Multimedia Core Network (CN) subsystem, or IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for short. IMS includes various network entities to provide multimedia services. Among other services, IMS services attempt to provide IP connectivity between mobile user equipment.

IP multimedia connections in IMS will be used more and more for voice calls in the future. In order to be able to provide full voice services, IMS also needs to meet the requirements of adjustment, so it needs to be able to perform IMS emergency sessions. The IMS emergency session in turn requires that emergency calls must be allowed to be performed without a UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) or (U)SIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card, or if the UICC is blocked from use (because of non-payment or similar).

When there is no UICC in the terminal, no IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) is available, but the terminal still needs to be identified in the network. In the currently published IMS emergency technical specification TR [23.867v0.9.0], at least part of the IMEI international mobile station equipment identity is used.

However, besides GPRS, IMS emergency sessions also need to be performed based on other IP-CAN (IP Connectivity Access Network). For WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and NGN (Next Generation Network) access, there is no already standardized identity without UICC available. For WLAN and NGN, there is no IMEI that can be used by the terminal as in the case of GPRS access.

Embodiments of the present invention address these problems.

Contents of the invention

Various aspects of the invention can be seen in the appended claims.

Description of drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a communication system in which the present invention can be implemented;

Fig. 2 shows the signal flow in the embodiment of the present invention; And

Figure 3 shows a scenario in which embodiments of the present invention can be used.

Detailed ways

Embodiments of the invention are particularly relevant to IMS networks but are not limited thereto. Embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to other networks.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 shows an IP multimedia network 45 for providing IP multimedia services to IP multimedia network subscribers. IP Multimedia (IM) functionality may be provided by a Core Network (CN) subsystem comprising a number of entities for providing services.

The base stations 31 and 43 are configured to transmit and receive signals to and from mobile users, ie mobile user equipment 30 and 44 of subscribers, over a wireless interface. Accordingly, each mobile user equipment is capable of sending and receiving signals to and from the base station via the radio interface. In the simplified representation of Fig. 1, the base stations 31 and 43 belong to different radio access networks (RAN). In the configuration shown, each user equipment 30, 44 has access to the IMS network 45 via two access networks associated with the base stations 31 and 43, respectively. It should be understood that although FIG. 1 only shows base stations of two radio access networks for clarity, a typical mobile communication network usually includes multiple radio access networks.

The 3G Radio Access Network (RAN) is usually controlled by an appropriate Radio Network Controller (RNC). The controller is not shown for greater clarity. One controller may be assigned to each base station, and it is possible for one controller to control multiple base stations. It is also known to provide a controller for controlling multiple base stations both in a single base station and at the radio access network level. It should therefore be understood that the name, location and number of network controllers are system dependent.

Mobile users may connect to the network using any suitable mobile device adapted for Internet Protocol (IP) communications. For example, mobile users may access cellular networks through personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile stations (MSs), and the like. The following examples are described in the context of a mobile station.

Those skilled in the art are familiar with the function and operation of a typical mobile station. Therefore, a detailed description of these properties is unnecessary. It is well to be noted that a user may use a mobile station to perform tasks such as make and receive phone calls, receive and send data to and from a network, and experience, for example, multimedia content. To accomplish these tasks, mobile stations are typically equipped with processors and memory means. The mobile station may comprise antenna means for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals from and to base stations of the mobile communication network. The mobile station is also equipped with a display for displaying images and other graphical information to the user of the mobile user equipment. Speaker units are also available. The operation of the mobile station can be controlled through a suitable user interface, such as control keys, voice commands, and the like.

It should be understood that although only two mobile stations are shown in FIG. 1 for clarity, multiple mobile stations may be communicating simultaneously.

A core network (CN) entity typically includes multiple control entities and gateways to enable communication over multiple radio access networks and is used to link individual communication systems with one or more communication systems, such as other cellular systems and/or fixed The line communication system is interfaced. In Fig. 1, serving GPRS support nodes 33, 42 and gateway GPRS support nodes 34, 40 are respectively used to provide support for GPRS services 32, 41 in the network.

The radio access network controllers are typically connected to corresponding core network entities, or entities such as but not limited to Serving General Packet Radio Support Nodes (SGSN) 33 and 42 . Although not shown, each SGSN typically has access to a designated subscriber database configured to store information related to the subscription of individual user equipment.

User equipment in a radio access network may communicate with a radio network controller. The Radio Access Network Controller communicates with the Serving GPRS Support Node via a suitable interface, for example over the Iu interface.

The Serving GPRS Support Node in turn typically communicates with the Gateway GPRS Support Node via the GPRS Backbone Network 32, 41 . This interface is usually a switched packet data interface. The serving GPRS support node and/or the gateway GPRS support node are used to provide support for GPRS services in the network.

The user equipment 30, 44 is connectable via the GPRS network to an application server typically connected to the IMS.

Communication systems have evolved to serve user equipment with various network functions handled by network entities known as servers. For example, in the current third generation (3G) wireless multimedia network architecture, it is assumed that a plurality of different servers are used to handle different functions. These functions include functions such as the Call Session Control Function (CSCF). Call session control functions can be divided into various categories such as proxy call session control functions (P-CSCF)35 and 39 interrogating call session control functions (I-CSCF)37 and serving call session control functions (S-CSCF)36 and 38. A user wishing to use a service provided by an application server through an IMS system may need to register with a service control entity. The Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) forms the entity in the configuration of the 3G IMS with which the user needs to register to be able to request services from the communication system. The CSCF may define the IMS network of the UMTS system.

It should be understood that different names may be used for similar functions in different systems. For example, in a specific application, the CSCF may be referred to as a call state control function.

It should be appreciated that although embodiments of the invention have been described in relation to user equipment, such as mobile stations, embodiments of the invention are applicable to any other suitable type of user equipment. Herein the term terminal is intended to include all such instances of user equipment.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a WLAN system 50 . A WLAN terminal 52 is connected to a WLAN system 54 and in particular to its access point. Gateway 56 is provided to connect to an external network, such as network 45 . The gateway 56 may be connected to a GGSN 58 of a network 58, which will be connected to a number of elements already discussed but omitted from the figure for clarity. The connection between gateways 56 and 58 may be through the Internet or the like.

A possible embodiment of the present invention has a WLAN terminal or a fixed broadband terminal for establishing an emergency session, even if the terminal does not carry a valid subscriber identity module, such as a UICC card with the USIM function described in 3GPP, or when the identity module is due to a certain are blocked by the operator for some reason. This technique may, where applicable, be used for GPRS terminals. Fig. 3 schematically shows a system in which various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. In this system, IMS services can be provided to terminals connected to data networks using WLAN access or fixed broadband access.

The first terminal 200 is a WLAN terminal which is connected to the WLAN 202 and in particular to its access point 204. The WLAN is connected to a network 206, such as an IMS network, which in turn is connected to a PSAP (Public Service Attachment Point).

The second terminal 210 is connectable to a fixed line 214, which may be provided as part of broadband access. The second terminal may be a WLAN terminal or a fixed broadband terminal. Connection to a fixed line can be made directly or through an access point 212 . The access point may be part of a WLAN. Fixed line 214 may be connected to network 206 .

The third terminal 216 may be connected to a switch or router 220 through an access point 218 or directly. A router can be connected to the network 206 .

It should be understood that the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is schematic and that in practice various additional elements may be provided between the various elements shown. Different terminals may be connected to different networks, not just the single network 206 shown in FIG. 3 . Multiple networks can be connected to the same PASP. Multiple PASPs can be connected to the same network.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the terminal shall create a temporary identifier for the emergency session based on at least one of the following information elements:

- the MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected;

- the terminal's own MAC address;

- the xDSL digital signal line identifier of the fixed line to which the terminal is connected directly or via a WLAN AP;

- the switch or router port number of the fixed line to which the terminal is connected directly or via the WLAN AP;

- An identifier constructed by combining any one or more of the above information elements, the entire information element, or only some parts of the information elements.

Referring to Figure 2, an embodiment of how the invention may be implemented is shown. In step S1, the terminal 100 includes the temporary identifier in the SI INVITE sent to the IMS network 102.

The IMS network 102 will use this identifier when forwarding the emergency session to the appropriate emergency center or Public Service Attachment Point (PSAP) 104 in step S2.

In steps S3 and S4, the PSAP/emergency center 104 can use this temporary identification in case the original emergency session is disconnected for some reason, in order to initiate a new emergency session, in other words, to re-establish an emergency session with the same terminal. session. Specifically, the PSAP sends a message including the temporary identifier to the IMS network. Based on the temporary identifier, the IMS network can establish a connection with the terminal in step S4.

The PSAP/emergency center may also use this temporary identifier to request further information about the terminal from the IMS (and from the access network), eg at step S5. This information may for example be about the current location of the terminal or historical data that the IMS may have stored about the terminal, for example about routing history or history of lost connections. These information can be returned to the PSAP through the IMS network in step S6.

It should be noted that steps S3 and S4 are only required when a connection needs to be established through PSAP 104, thus these steps can be performed at any suitable time and are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2 .

Likewise, steps S5 and S6 can only be performed when the PSAP requires specific information. The timing of these steps may vary and not exactly as shown in FIG. 2 . It should be understood that the PSAP may send multiple requests at varying times. The requested information may be returned by the IMS in one or more responses. Similarly, a PSAP may send a request and receive one or more replies from the IMS in response to the one request.

In some embodiments of the invention, the IMS may, in response to a request from a PSAP, send a request to the terminal itself or a different entity to obtain the information needed to respond to the PSAP.

When a lower layer routing identity is used to identify the calling user, the hierarchical pattern is broken to some extent, since the lower layer's identity is used as part of the upper layer's identifier or terminal identifier. The advantage is that this type of information is generally available in terminals, and these information elements can be used to construct a temporary identity for the terminal, which is likely to be unique worldwide.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to use the terminal IP address at least partially or fully in combination or on its own.

It should also be noted here that while the above describes exemplary embodiments of the invention, various changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims limited.

Claims (26)

CLAIMS 1. A terminal for use with a wireless local area network, the terminal being configured to use at least part of a MAC medium access control address as a user identification. 2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein said address is said MAC address of at least one of, in use, said terminal and an access point to which said terminal is connected. 3. A terminal for use with a wireless local area network, the terminal being configured to use at least part of the information identifying a fixed line to which the terminal is coupled in use. 4. The terminal according to claim 3, wherein the information is at least one of the following: DSL line identifier; switch identifier; router identifier; switch port; and router port. 5. A terminal according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said terminal is arranged to be connected directly to said fixed line. 6. A terminal according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said terminal is arranged to connect to said fixed line through an access point. 7. A terminal according to claim 6, wherein said access point comprises a WLAN access point. 8. A terminal for use with a wireless local area network, said terminal being configured to use at least part of at least one of the following information blocks as identification: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and The port number of the fixed line switch or router to which the terminal is connected directly or through the WLAN access point AP in use. 9. A terminal according to any preceding claim, wherein said terminal is one of a GPRS terminal, a WLAN terminal and a fixed broadband terminal. 10. A terminal according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said terminal is configured to use said at least one part of at least one of said information blocks obtained from one of an access point, a fixed line, a switch or a router, and to use said information to determine the identity. 11. A system comprising a terminal as claimed in any preceding claim and a network to which said terminal is connected. 12. A system according to claim 11, comprising an access point to which said terminal is connectable, said access point being connectable to said network. 13. A system according to claim 11 or 12, comprising at least one of a router and a switch to which said terminal is connectable, said at least one router and a switch being connectable to said network. 14. A system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising an emergency center configured to conduct an emergency session with said terminal. 15. An emergency center configured to establish a session with the terminal using an identifier related to the terminal, the identifier including at least one of the following: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and The port number of the fixed line switch or router to which the terminal is connected directly or through the WLAN access point AP in use. 16. An emergency center configured to request information from a terminal with which an emergency session is established using an identification associated with the terminal, the identification comprising at least one of the following: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and The port number of the fixed line switch or router to which the terminal is connected directly or through the WLAN access point AP in use. 18. The emergency center of claim 17, wherein said information includes at least one of a current location of said terminal, a routing history, and a history of lost connections. 19. A network configured to receive identification information related to a terminal and forward the information to an entity to establish a session with it, the information including at least one of the following: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and The port number of the fixed line switch or router to which the terminal is connected directly or through the WLAN access point AP in use. 20. A network according to claim 19, wherein said network is an IMS network. 21. A network according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said entity is one of an emergency center and a PSAP. 22. A network according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein said network is arranged to store information related to said identity. 23. The network of claim 22, wherein the information includes at least one of connection history, lost connection history, and location information. 24. A network element configured to receive identification information related to a terminal, and forward the information to a network with which a session is to be established, the information including at least one of the following: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and The port number of the fixed line switch or router to which the terminal is connected directly or through the WLAN access point AP in use. 25. The network element of claim 24, wherein the network element comprises at least one of an access point, a switch, a router, and a fixed line. 26. A network element according to claim 24 or 25, wherein said network element is configured to provide at least a part of said information used by said terminal to provide said identification information. 27. A method of establishing an emergency session, comprising the steps of: Define identification information related to the terminal, where the information includes at least one of the following: The MAC media access control address of the AP access point to which the terminal is connected in use; the MAC address of the terminal; a signal line identifier of a fixed line to which said terminal is connected in use directly or via a WLAN access point AP; and the switch or router port number of the fixed line to which the terminal is connected in use directly or through the WLAN access point AP, and forwarding the information to the entity with which the session is to be established.

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